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Becoming a Java Champion (correct subject)
By Bruno Souza | sharing
I'm getting ready to leave to the station, to get a train to Brno.
When I get a call from a friend of mine.
Very important fella, yet, this is not about him, so, I didn't even try to check if I could mention his name…
He said:
"Bruno, Reuant Bkom is looking to become a Java Champion."
I looked Reuant up (not a real name btw). Very experienced dev.
My friend continued:
"I thought you might be able to offer guidance."
Well…
As a founding member of the Java Champions program, I might be able to offer guidance…
Yet…
Whatever I tell Reuant (assuming he does reach out) I could tell you.
So, if you, like Reuant, ever wanted to become a Java Champion…
or…
Microsoft MVP
Google Developer Expert
IBM Champion
Oracle ACE
or many others…
There are, I think, two things for you to understand…
One…
Those programs are looking for what I call, external evangelists.
That is…
Technical people that will work closely with those companies, to help, discuss, promote, answer, improve, help, get involved, write, talk, did I say help? etc, the communities of whatever technology the program is about.
In the case of the Java Champions…
The company is Oracle…
And the tech is… Java.
And…
The community is…
The Java Community at large. Java User Groups, events, open source projects, etc.
Second…
They are community recognitions…
That means…
You don't get to become a member of those programs by promising you will do something in the future…
It's a recognition for the things you are already doing NOW
(and potentially, have been doing for some time…)
And…
These recognitions are NOT guaranteed!
I have a friend that wanted to become a Java Champion…
And he did all the right things…
What got him hired by Oracle…
What…
By the definition of who is a Java Champion…
Actually prevented him from becoming one!
(Elder Moraes was eventually recognized as a Java Champion, when he left Oracle years later…)
Also, there are plenty of people that could be a Java Champion, and for whatever reason, are not.
So…
Not guaranteed.
Anyway…
Because of those two things…
You don't DO THINGS to become a Java Champion…
You do things because they are important to you…
Because you care about people in the community…
You do because you want to help.
(Did I mention help before?)
That is…
If you and Reuant really want to become a Java Champion…
If you want to be recognized by those programs…
You gotta become, right now, a giver, who helps the community.
I would start there.
You know a good and easy way to help?
Support your local Java User Group and the community events near you.
How?
Attend.
Every meeting.
Even when you are not fully (or at all…) interested in the topic.
I'm serious.
It is not about you.
It is about supporting the community.
This is a very easy first step.
And there are many other ways to become a giver, who helps the community…
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Cheers,
Bruno.
The "You Can Become If You Want" Man